Apparatus for cementing wells



JuneL 6, 1939. E, v. cRowELL APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed March28. 1938 INVENTOR.

EPD cRowELL BY I ATTORNEY.

M. MN. H2M/.nw 2 2 m e Patented June 6, T939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEl l 2,161,284 i vAPPARATUS FOR, CEMENTING WELLS l tErd V. Crowell,Glendale, Calif. l Application Mar/ch 28, 1938, Serial No. 198,445 10Claims. (Cl. 166-1) This invention relates to apparatus and methx odsfor cementing wells and contemplates generally a`ported well casingstring embodying individually-operable valve mechanism for closing 5 theports and the bore of the casing to fluid in the well in combinationwith meansV for selectively opening said valve mechanism to permit mosteiective placement of fluent cement in the well bore .around the casingand shoe therefor or at any predeterminedv zone of the annular area inthe well around the casing. In these particulars the invention issimilar to the structure embodied in my prior Patents No. 2,071,391'andNo. 2,071,- 392, the objects and advantages hereof including 1c thosecontemplated for the structure of said patents. This application is acontinuation in part lof my copending applications S. N. 27,041 filedJune 17, 19,35, now Patent No. 2,120,694, granted June 14, l1938, and N.A146,406 -iled June 4,

E 1937,- and theapplica ions and patents related thereto.

In devicesr of this character it is desirable to` provide the string'of-casing to be cemented in the well hole with a float valve adjacent itslower end, preferably above the lateral ports in the casing throughwhich cement is -to be subsequently discharged, to close the bore of thestring to pressure outside thereof, and thereby facilitate initialpositioning of the casing, and further, to

prevent the return flow of cement into the casing after completion ofthe cementing process. Preliminary to cementing it is essential thatcirculation of mud fluid be established downwardly through the bore ofthe casing for discharge from the shoe and thenceupwardly to the wellsurface through the annular area of the hole around the casing to removedebris and to indicate that cementing is in order.l VariousY means havebeen devised for maintaining the lateral ports closed while circulatingthroughthe lower end of the casing. A'fter .circulation of mud fluid isestablished the casing below the ports isclosed to dev'ilectcementitious fluid pumped from the well surface through the ports. .Inthe art prior to my invention, thel cement` is held in positionl whilelapidifying principally by individual valves located on the casing overeach port; andY also by maintaining a tight head on the casing toprevent the development of a pressure differential in the area withinand 'around the casing adjacent the ports. s 1

It is a principal object to provide, i'ri a ported casing structure ofthe character; above indil cated, a pair of independently operable upperand lower valve means -to control the boreof the casing above and below,respectively, the lateral cemerftdischarge ports whereby in normaloperation to successively close the bore of the casing above the""portsto pressure therebelow while maintaining the bore of the. casing belowthe port 5 open; opening the upper iloat valve means for the ejection offluid throughthe bore of the casing below, or optionally through, theports; closing the lower valve means while fluid from the well surfaceis ejected from the ports; and iinally, 10 closing both valve means toforma closed chamber with which the ports are in communication toprevent the return. of cementitious or other fluid into the casingthrough the ports.

Another Objectis the provision of 'a tubular 15 member forming a sectionor a continuation of a casing string` having a valvereleasably'supported in the bore of the member in combination with meansoperated from the well surface to effect its release and thereby closethe bore of the casing to 2o pressure thereabove.

Another object is to provide a casing string, equipped with a pair ofindependently operable -valve means to close the bore thereof topressure above and below lateral ports in the casing, in 2 combinationwith releasable means located above the upper valve means to normallymaintain the lower valve from contact with its seat to permit iiuid tobe moved into the lower bore and be expelled from the casing below bothvalves. 0'

Another object is the provision of a method oi' cementing well casingwherein the casing bore may be closed to pressure at o'r below the levelat which a series of lateral ports are disposed; then opening the boreof the casing, and while 35 maintaining the lateral ports closed,discharging circulating fluid from the casing at a lower level; closingthe bore of the casing below the lateral ports to deflect fluent cementintroduced into the casing outwardly through said ports; and sub- 40sequently closing the. ports and the bore of the casing abovel and belowthe level at which the ports are located.

Other objects and salient features of my invention will be apparent tothose of skill in the 45 art upon an examination lof the followingdescription read in the light of the accompanying drawing, in whichzFig. -1 is a sectional view of a casing shoe embodying my improvement;

Fig. 2 is a view in section of a casing string equipped with a portedshoe embodying the, present invention, illustrating particularly theparts as positioned during the ejection of cement from A the lateralports in the shoe; 55

Fig. 3 is a sectional view ot a combination string of casing with myinvention embodied in a casing section or collar;

Fig. 5 is a broken portion of a collar or shoe depicting a modified formof valve actuating means.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numerals of which indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views, 5 designates generally inbroken section an imperforate casing string, to the lower end of whichis attached by threading, the barrel 6 of a casing shoe 1. A hollowcement valve body 8 is cast in the bore of barrel 6, forminga pair ofconnected upper and lower valve chambers 9 and Ill, respectively, and anupper passageway axially aligned with the barrel connecting the uppervalve chamber 9 with the bore of casing string 5 and a lower passagewayI2 extending from. the lower valve chamber I8 through the lower end ofshoe 1. The upper passageway I I and the valve chambers are lined byamember I3 for obvious purposes.

The hollow cement valve body 8 is extended below the lower end of theshoe barrel 6 and is curved inwardly to form a shoe guide |4. Bar- .rel6, cement valve body 8, and liner member I3 are provided with a seriesof axially aligned lateral cement-discharge ports I5. The exterior ofbarrel 6 is indented at the ports as at I6. A series of valves I1, eachcomprising a strip of spring metal, are secured at one of its ends tothe barrel in the indentation I6 to extend horlzontally over arespective port. I5.

A transverse spider I8 having a hub I9 is secured to the liner I3intermediate ports l5 and a conical lower valve seat 26, formed on theliner member at the lower extremity or valve chamber |0. A float valve2| having an upper surface voi? an upper invention is suspended from thewellbottom a face disposed parallel to the conical valve seat 22 formedby liner I3 at the upper end of valve chamber 9, is reciprocablysupported in axial alignment with the shoe 1 by means of a vhollow valvestem 23 slidable in the hub I9 of the spider. Vertical radially-disposedvalve guides 24 are integrally attached -to the upper portion of thebevelled surface ci valve 2| and slidably engage the portion of liner I3forming the upper passageway A helical spring 25 encircling the stem issupported on spider |8 and bears against the under-side of iloat valve2| to urge the same toward a closed position. i

A lower cement ber III is secured to the lower which extends upwardlythrough the bore of stem 23 and the passageway A helical spring 28,encircling rod 21 between the spider and valve 26 urges the lower valveto a closed position on deiiecting valve 26 in chamseat 26 but thespring is normally held com' '66 pressed and the valve maintained in aposition spaced from its seat by means of a yoke 29 secured to the upperend of rod 21. Yoke 29 consists of a series of bowed spring members 30,each having one of their ends attached to the upper end of rod 21, andtheir opposite ends bowed outwardly and downwardly into the bore of thevalve body 8 so as to engage the`inner surface of the liner I3 of thepassageway lll. 'I'he lower ends of spring members 30 are slidablymounted on transverse screws 3| attached to the arms 32 of a cross 33encircling the rod. Helical springs 3|a are preferably provided vonscrews 3| between members 3|) and arms 32 to resiliently urge themembers outwardly against the walls of passageway The members 30 `in thecasing therebelow,

end of a4 rod 21.

are each bent sharply inward at corresponding distances from their upperends to form shoulders 34 which engage. the upper end of the liner andvalve body when the valve is in its upper open position tothereby'resist seating of the gglve 26 in response to expansive force ofspring In Eig. 3 the invention is shown in a collar 35 comprising a unitof a combination string of casing; the collar 35 connecting the upperimperforate string 5 to a casing screen 36. A'hollow cement valve body31, which is identical with valve body 8 with the omission of the lowerextension comprising the shoe guide I4, is cast in collar 35. In thebore of the valve body, liner I3 is disposed. as in the device of Fig.l.

In a modication of the above-described structure, the spider I8 isomitted (see Fig. 4) and a single'valve chamber contains valves 2|v and26.

Spring 38 encircles stem 23 and rod 21 to urge each of the valves toclosed position.

AThe operation of my invention is briefly described as follows: The shoe1 or collar 35 embodying the invention is assembled with the v'string isassembled and lowered into- `the well,

iloat valve 2| will remain closed to fluid in the well and permit thecasing to be partially floati ed to position, thus alleviating strainlon the casing and equipment.

Circulation may be established at any time during' the loweringoperationto remove obstructions in the well shaft. 'If the cement is to be placedaround the shoe. or adjacent the bottom of the well, the 'stringprovided with thevshoe. of my short distance andfmud circulating iluidis inpump pressure the circulating uid displaces valve 2| and enters thevalve chambers 9 and I0. With valves I1 resiliently resistingdisplacement from ports I5, the iluid will normallypass into the lowerpassageway I2 and enter the well bore through the lower end of the shoe,or, in a string including collar 35, through any opening as, forexample, the

perforations of the screen 36.

Whenfree circulation has been deiinitely 'es'" tablished, a travelingY-plug 39 is inserted in the casing. Y-plug 39 comprises a lower hollowportion 40, only slightly-smaller diametrically than the bore of thecasing andan upper solid portion 4| of lesser diameter.

#with the casing. A sleeve encircles the ex- Portion 4| of the plug is'provided withva'n upper extension 42 on whicha' tension on top of thepacker to maintain thepacker43 flat on the plug. A second packer 43aidentical with packer 43 is placed 0n extension 42 and is held againstsleeve 44 by a second sleeve 44a. The plug may carry any number ofpackers, each preferablysurmounted by a sleeve. The lower portion ofplug 39 is provided with a series -o teral openings 45 at the point ofits juncture with the solid portion 4| thereof which communicate withthe hollow bore 46 of the lower portion of the Y-plug 39.

On top of plug 39 cementitious fluid is pumped in an amountpredetermined to be suiiicient to fill the area of the portion ofthewell shaft around the casing to be cemented. Into the casing on top ofthe cement an indicator plug 41, slidable with the .casing and carryingan upwardly extending calathiform packer 48, is intr'oduced. Mud fluidis then introduced on top of plug 41 and the slug of cement is forceddownwardly between plugs 39 and 41 to the valve body 8 or 31.

When the Y-plug is moved by pump pressure on packers 43 and 43a and theupper end thereof yoke 29. The bore smaller than the bore 46 oi plug 39is slightly of the valve body to insure the inward contraction of thebowed spring members30 and the disengagement of shoulders 34 from theupper end of the valve body. The expansicn of spring 28- (or 38 in Fig.4) and the force of the downwardly passing fluid will thereupon lowerthe deflecting valve 26 .'against its seat 20, drawing the yokepartiallyinto the passageway II as the Y-plug seats'on the upper end ofthe valve body. The continued introduction of mud fluid into the asingatthe well surface under` pump pressure will collapse the packers 43 and43a, causing movementof the uent cement through the openings 45 of theY-plug, passage way II and thence through the ports I5 due to theclosure of the casing bore therebelow by valve 26. The cement dischargethrough lateral ports will be completed when plug 41 abuts ports I5within the casing. This against plug 39, which will lleave the cementtailings between the upper end of the plug 41 and/ condition will beindicated to the operator by the pressure built up in the casing abovethe packer 48.

With pressure in the valve chambers 9 and I0 and upper passageway IIsubstantially equalized,

the iloat valve will close in response to the urge' of spring 25 (or 38in Fig. 4). Individual port valvles I1 will likewise close. It will thusbe seen that valves I1, the lower valve 26, and the oat valve 2| -willall cooperate to prevent the return of the ejected cernentitious iluidthrough the ports as well as resist'the displacement of the mud iluidsupporting the cement.

Various modications may be made in the operation of the apparatus, as,for example, the mud circulating fluid may be discharged partially orentirely through the ports I5, by introducing the plug 39 in advance ofthe uid'to be so' ejected should the lower end of the casing be cloggedby bridging obstructions in the well shaft. Cement may be ejected fromthe lower end of the casing by introducing it into the casing at thewellsurface prior to the placement therein of the Y-plug.

It will be observed in the embodiment of Fig. 4 that the urge of spring38 against iioat valve 2| will be greater while lowering the casing intothe well shaft due to the suspension of valve 26,`

which forms the lower support for spring 38, from its seat during thisoperation. Similarly the spring 38 will exert greater force againstvalve 26 after its release by the Y-plug, during the ejection of cementfrom the ports I5 due to the downward displacement of the iloat valvewhich tends to compress the spring.

It will be understood by those of skill .in the art that numerouschanges may be made in size design, arrangement, and number of thevarious parts, all Without departing from the spirit of my invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

adjacent the valve body, the lower portion of the plug will telescopethe .lowermost valve l. In a device of the character described, a portedtubular member, a valve body of lapideous materialsecured in saidmember, said valve body being formed with lcommunicating upper and lowervalve chambers, said valve body having an upper passageway extendingfrom the upper valve chamber through the upper end of the body and alower passageway extending from the lower valve chamber through thelower end of the body, a pair of independently operable valves arrangedspaced apart in said valve body 0n Opposite 'sides of the port in saidmember, means supporting the uppermost valve in a position to close saidupper passageway to pressure therebelow, means releasably supporting thelowermost valve lin a position permitting the passage of pressure iiuiddownwardly-through said lower passageway, and means actuated by fluidpressure to release said lower valve to clo'sethe bore o f said lowerpassageway to pressure thereabove. 2. In a device of the characterdescribed, a

ported tubular member, avalve body secured in said passageway onopposite sides of said port,

resilient means supporting the uppermost valve in a position tov closesaid passageway to pressure therebelow, means releasably supporting thein a position permitting the passage of pressure iiuid downwardlythrough said passageway, said lower valve being adapted for release toclose said passageway to pressure thereabove.

3. In a device of the character described, a tubular member, a valvebody secured in said member having a vpassageway formed longitudinallythrough said body, a pair of independently operable valves arrangedspaced apart in said passageway to control the passage of fluidtherethrough, resilient means supporting the uppermost valve to preventthe passage of uid upwardly through the body, means releasably.supporting the lowermost valve in a position permitting the passage offluid downwardly through the body, said body and tubular member havinglateral ports communicating at their innermost ends with said passagewayintermediate the valves .and at their outer ends with the areasurrounding said tubular member, and means actuated by fluid pressure torelease said lower valve and close the bore of said passageway belowsaid. ports.

4. In a device of the character described, a well casing, a tubularmember secured to said casing forming ashoe for. the lower end of thecasing,

'a valve body in said member, a`valve in said body to open and closesaid member to a balance of I pressure above and below, respectively,said valve, a second valve means releasably supporting said second valvein said body, said second valve permitting the passage of fluiddownwardly through said member but adapted upon release to discontinuethe flow of Ilu'id downwardly through said body, said member havingcementing ports formed through the side thereof, outwardly openingvalves for said ports preventing the Il ow ofiluid into said member fromthe exterior thereofsaid outw dly opening v-alves adapted to open topermit the ischarge of cement through said ports from the interior Iofsaid member only after said second valve is made effective for.discontinuing the ow of uid downwardly through said member.

5. A cementing and float plug for well casing comprising a cylindricalshoe, a valve structure including a valve cage secured in said shoe,valve means in said cage comprising va downwardly opening valve and adownwardly closing valve, said valves being independently operable tocontrol the passage of fluid through the bore of said shoe, a guidemember secured in the bottom of said shoe and depending, downwardlytherefrom, the valve structure and guide being formed of friablematerial whereby they may be subseq'uently broken out, said shhaving lateral openings formed therethrough adjacent the valve structurefor the egress of fluid from said shoe.

6. A cementing and float plug .for well casing comprising a cylindricalshoe, a valve structure including a valve cage secured in said shoe,said valve cage having an opening formed longitudinally therethrough, adownwardly opening valve and a downwardly closing valve mounted rin saidcage, a spring between said valve, a guide member secured in the bottomof said shoe and dependingdownwardly therefrom, the valve structure andguide being formed of fri'able material whereby they maybe subsequentlybroken' out, said cylindrical shoe having lateral openings formedtherethrough intermediate the valves for lthe egress of uid from saidshoe. y

'7. In a device of the character described, a tubular member having alateral port therein, valve means to close the bore of said member topressure from below,iiuid means under pressure to displace said valvemeans and move adjacent said port, means normally closing said port todeflect said fluid means downwardly throughv said tubular member belowsaid port, and valve means to close said tubular member below said-portto pressure ther'eabove simultaneously with closure 8. In a -device ofthe character described, a tubular member, a hollow valve body in saidmember forming a pair of communicating upper andlower valve chamberstherein, a Valve in each of said chambers, means to urge said uppervalve to closed position, a stem connected to said lower valveextendingabove said upper valve engageable with said valve body toreleasablysuspend said lower valve in open position, a plug actuated byiluid pressure to release said means, and means to urge said 4lowervalve to closed position upon release of said means by said plug.

9. An apparatus of the character described comprising va ported tubularmember having an vopening throughout its length for the passage ofpressure iluid downwardly therethrough, a valve body in said openingadjacent said ports having a. valve chamber formed between the endsthereof communicating with the ports, valve means in said chamber, andmeans to move said valve means to close said passage above and belowsaid ports simultaneously to pressure in the member adjacent saidports.Y

10. In an apparatus for cementing wells, a well casing, a valve, meansto support said valve below a port in the casing, and a oementing plugcarrying means' slidably tting said well casing adapting said plug to beforced by fluid pressure downwardly through the casing to release saidvalve to permit said valve to close the bore of said casing to pressurethereabove while said pressure fluid by-passes said plug to said port.

ERD V, CRQWELL.

